Boys' basketball roundup: Lock down defense

Lansing allows just six second-half points in win; PR captures first win while Immaculata's slide continues

Comment

By James Howey

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By James Howey

Posted Dec. 12, 2012 at 12:19 AM

By James Howey
Posted Dec. 12, 2012 at 12:19 AM

Lansing, Kan.

Thanks to a huge burst in the third quarter Tuesday, wherein the Lansing boys’ basketball team outscored Bishop Ward 22-2, the Lions cruised to its fifth-straight victory.

“I didn’t feel good about the first half,” Lansing coach Rod Briggs said. “We gave up 25 points. I challenged them at half time and we only gave up six. Pretty happy with our effort in the second half, but we still have to play a lot better than we did.”

After the opening two quarters saw the Lions build a 39-25 advantage, the home team shut down the visiting Cyclones to the tune of just six second-half points.

That lock-down defense gave way to a 67-31 Lansing win. The Lions improved to 5-0 on the season.

“It was a good win for us,” Lansing forward Clay Young said. “We did better defensively and offensively in the second half so hopefully we can carry that into Friday.”

Khalil Bailey had 13 points to lead the red and white, Lucas Mein added 11 while Joe Schneider pitched in 10 and Zach Jackson had nine. Clay Young chipped in seven, Roy Clayter had six and Donte Gibson had five.

“You always want a lot of guys to score and have some balance,” Briggs said. “It makes us a lot harder to scout. We don’t have one guy, we have a lot of guys that can contribute any given night.”

Lansing will travel to Bonner Springs Friday for a 7:15 p.m.

“We got to make sure we play hard and get in a running game with them,” the Lions coach said. “We need to get up and down the floor and play hard defensively and just take care of what we need to take care of.”

PR pulls out road victory

The Pleasant Ridge boys’ basketball team tallied its first win of the season Tuesday, defeating Kansas City Christian 44-41.

“We grinded it out,” PR coach Sean Murphy said. “The first half went back and forth, but then we did a really good job of neutralizing their big guy. My seniors showed up in a big way and played like they are capable of so it was exciting.”

Ridge, 2-1, will try to even out its record Friday when it hosts Riverside at 7:30 p.m.

Imac slide hits three straight

Failing to come up with an answer to its visitor’s inside presence, the Immaculata boys’ basketball team lost Tuesday 54-30 to St. Mary’s.

The Raiders had an 8-7 lead after the first quarter, but a 12-4 second quarter by St. Mary’s opened the contest up.

Page 2 of 2 - The visitors continued its effective offense in the third where it compiled a 20-point lead, which the Raiders weren’t able to narrow.

“We got some good looks, but nothing was going in for us tonight,” Imac coach Mike Connelly said.

Sean Murray led the Raiders in scoring with 10 while Connor Goetz put in eight.

Immaculata, 0-3, looks for its first win Friday when it plays at 7:30 p.m. vs. Doniphan West.